Current Stage

The Airedale Masterplan now into its third year of implementation has begun to see some of the priority projects moving forward and the masterplan being embedded in local and regional strategies. This is the key to bring the vision of a ‘connected, creative and lifestyle corridor set in a rural backdrop to reality’

Priority Projects :

The Advanced Digital Institute (ADI): The UK 's first independent research and development institute is now well established with the appointment in 2006 of the CEO Ged Powell and the appointment of up to 16 staff of national and international repute. The ADI currently based in Cottingley will act as a catalyst and high tech business centre helping companies develop leading edge solutions for the global market in wireless communication, embedded systems, satellite navigation and positioning technology, Digital TV, home networking and consumer broadband amongst other things.

It is the quality engineers that will commercialise ideas into new products and services that will spin out new businesses and critically attract the best people in Airedale that will drive future business development

Collaborative contracts have been signed with PACE Microtechnology and Telematics USN a division of a South Korean R&D Institute

They are now engaged with over 30 companies in the Yorkshire and the Humber region

Bingley Business Technology Park : The first phase of this project has now received planning permission to develop the Coolgardie Farm site opposite Bingley Grammar School , discussion with the developers suggests that construction will start late spring. There is already a high level of interest by end-users. The first phase will bring up to 160,000sq ft of business space into use.

The site will also consist of a business centre, work-live units, a children's nursery, car parking, landscaped grounds, improved cycle access and storage.

Keighley Station: The station is the sixth busiest in West Yorkshire with 1.3m passengers using it in 2005 this is expected to increase by another 100,000 by 2009. It is a key gateway to the town and with the relocation of Keighley College to its new site on Dalton Lane , the expected new ASDA store on Bradford Road and the regeneration of the Dalton Lane area there are opportunities for improving the station.

A recent report by consultants ARUP, supported by Architects AEDAS, has been produced to look into the redevelopment of Keighley Station and the improvement of traffic flows in Keighley, the report is available on this website under resources. A team will be established to consider the ideas and opportunities set out in the report and look into the regeneration opportunities they provide.

North Street Hotel Keighley: Following the merger between Keighley College and Park Lane College of Leeds into the newly named Park Lane College Keighley and approval of funding for the College to develop its new building on Dalton Lane work can now begin to develop proposals for the sites in the Town Centre and at Harold Town, Dalton Lane .

Following initial discussions last year the project team will look at the feasibility work needed to bring the sites to market

Shipley Eastern Link Road : This project is aimed at establishing a new road link between Otley Road , Leeds Road and Canal road that will unlock employment land development opportunities in the Dockfield Road area as well as easing traffic flows in the Shipley.

Feasibility and design work is continuing in parallel with that of the Bradford Canal, in partnership with Metro, the consultants Arup have been appointed to develop the business proposal for the scheme for submission to the Regional Transport Board in April this year as be part of a wider ‘Connecting Airedale' project.

Other Developments

Work is continuing with partner organisations to develop the Airedale Greenway a connected route for cyclists and pedestrians to primarily link the towns of Keighley, Bingley and Shipley to the canal towpath to encourage less reliance on car journeys for work or leisure. A clear signage strategy is also being developed to support the route and provide information and user guidance.

We are also working with partners to develop a river stewardship programme for the River Aire and its main tributaries.

Further meetings have been held with businesses and residents in the Dalton Lane area of Keighley to improve the business and residential environment. This included two clean ups days in July with residents and businesses

A business forum is being established for the Dockfield Road area of Shipley

The establishment of the first ‘service hub' at Silsden Town Hall is nearing completion this will give local service providers a location for delivery of services in the more rural areas of the district. Hubs are also being established in Denholme and Haworth

Promotion

Airedale continues to be the focus of interest for developers and business alike with several more tours of the area having been undertaken since September 2007.

March 2008